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NEW RELEASE! Special Edition
LP CLASSICS PRESENTS 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF
JEROME LOWENTHAL.
FRANZ LISZT – OPERA PARAPHRASES
This collection of Liszt opera paraphrases was first issued on LP by RCA in 1981 and, until now, never released on CD. In addition to the original RCA recital, LP Classics has added three bonus items: Busoni’s Chamber Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen, also known as Sonatina No. 6, and two skits à la Victor Borge, both titled “Little Narration of My Own,” in which Lowenthal talks about the Preludio of the Rigoletto paraphrase by narrating Verdi’s libretto and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf story, respectively.
ALSO AVAILABLE…
ANTON ARENSKY – SUITES FOR TWO PIANOS, performed by Lavrova/Primakov Duo
Little known today, Anton Arensky (1861-1906) was one of the brightest stars of the late 19th century Russian music scene and was one of the most influential figures in the promotion of two-piano music. Arensky’s two-piano Suites are models of the romantic duo piano literature and like all the best examples of two-piano music, Arensky’s Suites make no compromises on the technical demands made of the performers. Anton Arensky’s influence as a pianist, a composer, a conductor and a remarkable teacher to such future luminaries as Rachmaninov, Gretchaninov and Scriabin—has earned him a place of distinction in the history of Russian music.
This release celebrates Arensky’s 150th Birth Anniversary.
DISCOVERING A LEGEND. VERA GORNOSTAEVA, Vol. I CHOPIN RECITAL
Vera Gornostaeva, is a celebrated Russian performer considered A “True Treasure” of Russian culture and has traveled extensively throughout Soviet Union with up to 100 concerts a year. Her reviewers raved about her “Gornostaeva is a natural! She has an envious control of the instrument.” “Recitals, given by Gornostaeva, are never flashy. Her playing is neither mannered nor false. She communicates the true essence of music that she delivers in the most profound way. Whether it is works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Schumann, Prokofiev or Shostakovich – there is always a great sense of knowledge, intellect and inescapable passion.”
Unfortunately, because Vera Gornostaeva never made any compromises – politically or musically, she became a persona non grata in the eyes of the Soviet Regime and despite the fact that invitations from the west kept pouring in, the permission to leave was never granted. As a result, for over twenty years Gornostaeva’s name was among those “blacklisted” and was officially deemed politically unreliable. By the time the iron curtain fell, Vera Gornostaeva, already in her 60s, decided to abandon her performing career and dedicate herself entirely to teaching and would perform only occasionally.
LP Classics is thrilled to have formed an alliance with “Gosteleradiofond”- State Fund of Television and Radio Programs in Moscow, Russia and to have discovered a great amount of well-preserved, live performances of this legendary pianist and pedagogue. These performances are from some of the most prestigious halls in Russia and none of these recorded recitals were ever released. This record will be the first glimpse into the life of a true legend and consummate artist.